A CANVEY retirement village will get a new bar and cafe after more than 400 people wrote in support of the plans.

Castle Point councillors approved the new venue at Kings Park Village, in Creek Road, after a two-year battle.

Original plans, put forward in 2012, were refused, after concerns were raised the bar would be noisy and disturb neighbours.

The council’s development and control committee agreed to give the 1,000 residents at the park off Creek Road the new facilities, after a meeting this week.

Dave Blackwell, leader of Canvey Island Independent Party said: “When it comes to Kings Park, it’s a community on its own. People over there do like it. It is very secure and some of it needs to be updated to fit in with the park itself. This can only enhance the park for all the residents and their guests.”

Under the plans, a proposed storage room will be extended and the bar’s outdoor terrace will be enclosed in a bufffer area to minimise noise. It will be closed between 11pm and 7am.

The plan also includes a new bowling green and Norman Smith, councillor for Boyce ward, requested an additional condition to improve the look of the proposals.

An eight feet wall to minimise sound will be covered with plants to soften the impact on residents whose homes overlook the club.

The site’s existing secondfloor Jack Rabbit bar and nightclub isn’t used by many residents, because of the stairs.

Park director Graham Maguire had urged councillors to back the plans.

He said: “Some of our facilities date back to the Sixties and Seventies. People have paid very good money to move onto Kings Park and facilities to match it which is why we are trying to improve them. The cafe will be very much a daytime cafe for the park residents to come and enjoy a cup of tea with one another or a lunch. This is especially important for the nature of our residents.

They are elderly and they want to get out and enjoy things.

This will make it the hub of the park and the application has had overwhelming support.”

Castle Point Council received 422 letters of support for the Terrace Cafe proposal, and eight objections.